Brief History

The 5th Regiment South Carolina Infantry was organized about April 13, 1861, for twele months and mustered into the servce of the Confederate States June 4, 1861. At the end of the term of service the unit was disbanded but a large number of the men re-enlisted in the Palmetto Regiment, South Carolina Sharpshooters, and some in the 6th Regiment South Carolina Infantry. It was reorganized for the war on April 23, 1862, composing of men who had formerly served in the twelve month military units of the 5th, 6th, and 9th Regiments South Carolina Infantry , and some new recruits. On April 9, 1865, the unit surrendered.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Other Sources

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System can be searched by soldier's name or by regiment; includes regimental rosters and additional history of the regiment. This site uses Joseph H. Crute's book, Units of the Confederate States Army, as their main source for the regiment history. Family History Library book 973 M2crua, {{|590033|}}, WorldCat.

Footnote.com (A subscription website, but is available for use at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers). It has digital Civil War soldier service records and brief regiment histories (located at the bottom of some of the muster rolls).

"5th Infantry Regiment". The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources an Internet site, accessed 12/01/2010. Lists a Regiment History, a record of one of the events found on a muster roll and Company Rosters (before and after reorganization).

James Jackson Black. Linda Blum-Barton & Toby Barton, Internet site. Gives a brief history of some of the Black's involvements in the Civil War. This site states in the brief history about the 5th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry that the men were recruited in Laurens, Lancaster, Spartanburg, and Union counties.

Baldwin III, James J.. The Struck Eagle : a biography of Brigadier General Micah Jenkins and a history of the Fifth South Carolina Volunteers and the Palmetto Sharpshooters. (Shippensburg, Pennsylvania : Burd Street Press, c1996.) FHL book 975.7 M2ba and Other Libraries.

Hewett, Janet B., ed. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Pub. Co., c1994-2001. FHL book 973 M29u ser. 1 supp. pt. 2 v. 64 & 65. Lists officers, companies, and dates involving the company and places where they were stationed. There are 10 Companies (A-I, K) listed.